Poor Me! Egzanp

 Recognize It

So how do we rise above self-pity and get into faith when awful circumstances come our way? Here’s the first step: recognize it. 

Self-pity can be sneaky. It can pop into my mind (and stay there!) before I even know I’m feeling sorry for myself. Do you recognize any of these self-pity thoughts?

· Nobody cares or understands.

· It’s not working (variation: How come it always works for them but not for me?)

· Why doesn’t someone help me? 

· Why does God require more of me than other people?

· It’s so hard! (variation: no one has it as hard as I do.)

· I do things for others, but no one ever does anything for me.

· It would be better if I died.

· I can’t do anything right. 

· I’ve done everything I know to do, but it hasn’t worked.

· I hate my life! Everything is wrong; nothing is right. 

· I’m so tired. 

· I can’t take it anymore. 

Kind of painful to look at, aren’t they? Know this: everyone has had thoughts like these. Welcome to the human race. But those who overcome in life don’t dwell on them. And I can’t overcome those thoughts unless I identify them! If I leave them alone in my mind, they become strongholds. 

Thankfully, God says I have weapons to pull down strongholds: “…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).